As the world prepares to re-start travel, domestic tourism is top of minds to rebound first, followed by regional travel when travel ‘bubbles’ between countries are established.
Small Luxury Hotels of the World has welcomed six hotels in Bhutan, China and the ever popular Japan which recently joined the brand. More than just safe holiday havens, SLH hotels are able to offer additional services from arranging restaurant reservations, hotel-exclusive private tours to planning that special celebration, making the now-treasured vacation more meaningful and memorable.
The latest additions in Asia include:
Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, Shaba, Bhutan
24 rooms from US$677
Setting the scene on arrival with the ‘Transformation Room’, guests are given the chance to settle into a restful frame of mind before experiencing a remote and mystical world full of deep valleys, snow-capped mountains and an ancient way of life. Each room features ornate four poster beds and its own balcony or terrace, with spectacular views of the valley below. As the only 5-star luxury property in Bhutan to host a Bhutanese Executive Chef and present farm-to-table meals from their own greenhouse and garden, the Sanctuary’s culinary concept is unique in the country. Its location in Paro’s stunning Neyphu Valley also makes the Sanctuary an easy start point for day trips such as to Paro, Thimphu and the famous Tiger’s Nest Monastery.
Sowaka, Kyoto, Japan
23 rooms from JPY21,780
Restored from a 20th century ryotei (traditional Japanese restaurant) in one of Japan’s most alluring destinations. Sowaka Kyoto effuses ethereal elegance in its luxurious space combining Japanese tradition with modernity. Guests are instantly transported to an oasis of calm amongst the ryokan’s serene spaces, paying testament to its namesake, which means “happiness and well-being” in sanskrit. Traditional ryokan elements such as paper sliding doors, tea ceremony rooms are interwoven with modern comforts. Think handmade cedar wood speakers, and cushioned, cashmere mattresses.
Shima Kanko Hotel The Bay Suites, Ise-Shima, Japan
50 rooms from JPY64,000
Shima Kanko Hotel The Bay Suites has many strings to its bow: a Michelin-starred French restaurant La Mer which prides itself for the locally caught Ise Shima seafood cuisine, Japan’s first Clarins spa and a place in world history as the 2016 G7 Summit venue. The biggest draw here is the hotel’s spacious suites which come with separate living rooms and balconies offering beautiful sunset views of the coastline of Ago-wan Bay peppered with rafts for culturing pearls for world-renowned Mikimoto, perfected with the peacefulness of nearby Ise-Shima National Park.
Hinode Hills Niseko Village, Hokkaido, Japan
77 rooms from JPY46,000
Named to pay homage to the rising sun, the luxuriously appointed apartments of Hinode Hills embrace wabi-sabi aesthetics by revealing its subtle beauty through authenticity, natural forms and an appreciation of nature. The latest luxury addition to join YTL Hotels’ Niseko Village alongside Kasara Niseko Village Townhouse, Hinode Hills occupies a prime position at the base of Mount Niseko Annupuri with stunning Mount Yotei views, ski-in, ski-out access, an in-house onsen, and a host of on-property ski services.
The MIST Hot Spring Hotel, Xuchang City, Henan, China
51 rooms from CNY2,988
The MIST Hot Spring Hotel is located in the small ancient city of Xuchang in Central China, which is the country’s most famous hot spring destination since the Tang dynasty era. The hotel takes inspiration from the beauty of the hot spring steam to heighten its surreal and mystic beauty in all design aspects. Guest rooms are not joined by a typical corridor but a series of bridges floating in an atrium, and feature cotton linen beddings, customised wood furniture and modern interior design. No stay will be complete without luxuriating in one of the hotel’s 14 outdoor and five indoor hot spring pools offering the country’s finest geothermal water.
YiuTeung Mansion, Chengdu, China
131 rooms from CNY1,018
YiuTeung Mansion is a tribute to one of the city’s most famous authors Ba Jin – its name comes from the author’s real name while the hotel’s design inspiration comes from the mansion depicted in Mr Ba Jin’s novel 《家》“The Family”, giving each guest an unforgettable cultural heritage experience of the 1930s era. The hotel provides a peaceful respite in the city centre of thriving Chengdu. From the Deluxe rooms to the sublime Executive Suite, YiuTeung Mansion bedrooms are bright and spacious. Neutral shades of white, beige and cream allow quirky furnishings and subtle Chengdu artwork to shine.
See slh.com/
Lead image: The Mist Hot Spring Hotel
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